Gas lighter



June 1925. 1,540,291

, P. STELLA GAS LIGHTER Filed Nov. 5, 1923 Patented June 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES estates PATENT OFFICE.

IPASQUALE STELLA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALE TO CHARLES AIJL'ICO, G CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GAS LIGHTER.

Application filed November 3, 1923. Serial No. ($2,543.

W in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to gas lighters and more particularly to a lighter involving the use of an abrasive and a carbon element adapted to produce a spark upon being shifted while in frictional engagement with the abrasive element and which'is adapted to be operated simultaneously with the open ation of the valve controlling the supply 29 of gas to the burner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas lighter which may be ap plied to various types of burners, and which includes means for operatively connecting the same to the operating means of the burner valve and for holding the carbon element resiliently and positively in contact with the abrasive element at all times, as,

well as permitting adjustment of the carbon use, thus compensating for the wear of the carbon element and insuring that the same the purpose of igniting the gas and lighting the burner, and is also operated when the valve is closed to cut off the flow of gas to the burner so that it the valve should by inadvertance not be fully closed and the supply of gas entirely cut off, it will be ignited thus providing an element of safety so that the gas will be prevented from escaping or causing asphyxiation or other damage.

element as it wears off or is consumed in to permit the gas to flow to the burner for WVhile I have shown the invention-as particularly applied to a burner having an inverted gas mantle of the incandescent type, it is to be understood that I do not restrict this application to such a type of burner and that it may be applied to any other suitable form of burner as used for lighting, cooking or heating purposes, or to an upright style of mantle,'such as is common in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and therefore,

I do not desire to be limited to the exact form or relation oi parts shown.

The above and other objects and features of novelty oi the invention Will appear from the detailed description of invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional elevation showing my improved gas lighter applied to a gas lamp of the inverted type, the shade holder of the lamp as well as the shade or globe being partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the section line 22 of Figure 1, showing the manner of adjusting the carbon element of the lighter.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an abrasive element employed in connection with and forming part of the lighter.

Roterringto the drawings in detail, in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several to a burner, such asthe burner 5, having an incandescent gas mantle 6, shown in the present instance as of the inverted type, as is common in the art. interposed in the supply pipe is a valve 7 in the form of a turn-plug as shown, and provided with a cross bar 8, to the ends of which pendant views, iindicates a gas supply pipe leading flexible connections or chains 9 and 10 hav- 7 ing rings at their lower ends, are connected for the purpose of manipulating the valve to open and close the same.

The burncr.5 includes a vertical supply tube, around which the usual air control means 11 is provided, inv order to regulate the volume 01 air which enters the burner tube to combine with the gas therein, as is common in a Bunsen type of burner. The shade holder is indicated at 12, and is pro vided with the usuai or any preferred means at supporting a shade or globe 13 therein,

ill

in such a manner as to envelope the burner 5 and the mantle 6.

A rod 14: is pivotally connected with one arm of the cross bar 8, as indicated at 15, preferably near the chain 9 which is ordinarily operated to close the valve 7 and cut off the supply of gas to the burner. This rod 14 extends downwardly through an aperture guide member or bracket 16 carried by the upper portion of the shade holder 12, and also extends through an opening 17 in the shade holder for vertical reciprocation therein. A spring 18 serves to press against the rod 14, thereby resiliently holding it inwardly under pressure, and as shown, is formed as an extension of the apertured guide member 16, which as previously mentioned is mounted upon the shade holder 12. lVhile the spring may be suitably constructed, it will be noted that in the present instance, the spring 18 is formed as an integral part of the bracket and extends upwardly therefrom to bear on and exert inward pressure on the rod.

Mounted vertically upon the burner tube within the shade holder 12, is an abrasive element 19, illustrated in the present instance as a metallic member, such as steel, having a roughened or serrated surface and retained in position by a suitable means such as clamps or bands 20 mounted on the burner tube and securing the abrasive ele ment above and in closed proximity to the mantle or burner end of the tube, as previously described. An ignition element such as a carbon stick '21, is mounted horizontally at the lower end of the rod'le and extends inwardly therefrom for frictional engagement or contact with the serrated surface of the abrasive element 19, and is retained in such engagement by the spring 18.

Preferably, the lower end of the rod 14 is provided with a tube 22 receiving the carbon or ignition element 21 at its open inner end and is backed up by a screw 23 threaded in the tube and serving by its adjustment in engagement with the outer end of the element 21 to feed or move the same forwardly to compensate for wear thereon as well as to keep the inner end of the carbon element projected from the end of the tube and exposed for contact with the abrasive element, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 in the drawing. The abrasive element 19, which is shown in detail in Figure 3 of the drawings, may be mounted directly on the burner tube and maybe provided with side flanges 24, or a holder 25 may be soldered or otherwise secured to the burner tube 25, and provided with flanges 26 at the sides, to retain the abrasive element in position and also to guide the carbon or ignition element in its movements along the abrasive element and prevent it from being displaced at the sides thereof.

By this means, positive contact of the ignition element with the abrasive element at all times, is insured, even though there may be slight wear at the wall of the aperture of the guide member or bracket 16 which controls the movements of the rod 1 1.

When the device is applied ,toi a gas burner employing an incandescent mantle such as shown at 6, a guard or shield 27 is placed around the burner tube beneath the lighter and above the mantle, so that as the ignition element is moved in frictional contact with the abrasive element during the operation of the lighter, the particles of the ignition element which are disintegrated and drop, will strike the guard and be deflected from over the mantle, thereby preventing mutilation or disintegration of the mantle so that its usefulness for lighting purposes will not be impaired. The guard will prevent the particles from dropping on any burner with which it is used.

In the operation of the device, when it is desired to turn on the gas and ignite the same in connection with any burner or lamp, suchas described, the operator grasps the chain 10 or suitable ring provided at the lower end thereof and pulls downwardly thereon, thus turning and opening the valve 7 in the supply pipe and atthe same time turning the bar 8. The gas will then flow through the burner and the rod 141 by reason of its connection with the other arm of the bar 8, will be shifted vertically, or moved upwardly to cause the ignition or carbon element 21 to scrape or move into frictional engagement with and along the serrated surface of the abrasive element 19. This will produce a spark or sparks which will ignite the gas issuing from the burner tube. lVhen it is desired to extinguish the gas, pull is exerted upon the chain 9 or ring thereof which will close thevalve 7 to cut off the supply of gas to the burner, the parts moving from the position shown in full lines in figure to the position shown in dotted lines in said figure. Simultaneously, the ignition element and rod 1.4, will be moved downwardly owing to the reverse swinging of the bar 8 when the valve 7 is closed, thus movingthe ignition element 21 to the lower end of the abrasive element 19. This will cause an additional spark or sparks so that if by any means gas should be escaping, it will be ignited and consumed, thus preventing the gas from escaping in an unconsumed state into a room or rooms and causing explosions or other accidents.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides an eflicient element of safety in connection with a lighter for burners of any suitable type employing gas or other fuel and that the device is efficient in operation,

simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and

not likely to get out of working order. By

reason of the guard 27, which may be arranged beneath the lighter, the particles of carbon or other matter which are scraped off when the device is operated, will be prevented from dropping on to the mantle, or burner, when the device is applied to a burner of this type, thus protecting the mantle from disintegration. I

IVhile I have shown what I now consider to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is understood that I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact form or relation of parts shown, nor the application of the invention to an incandescent gas lamp or burner, but may be applied to gas stoves or other gas burners, and I wish to be protected for such modifications apparent to those skilled in the art as defined by the iuvention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A gas lighter comprising a reciprocating rod, a gas valve, means for reciprocating said rod in conjunction with the operation of the gas valve, an ignition element carried by the rod disposed perpendicular thereto, an abrasive element secured adjacent the gas discharge, and resilient means engaging the reciprocating rod to force the ignition element into frictional engagement with the abrasive member.

2. A gas lighter as specified in claim 1 in which the abrasive member comprises a channeled body having transverse serrations on its inner bottom face, the side walls adapted to engage and guide the ignition member.

3. In a gas burner having a lever operated valve, a rod pivoted by one end to the valve lever, a tube carried by the rod perpendicu larly thereto at its other end, an ignition member slidably adjustable in the tube, a channeled member secured to the burner having transverse serrations on its inner bottom face and resilient means engaging the rod adjacent the end with the tube to force the end of the ignition member between the side walls of the channel member and against the serrations.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PA'sQUALE STELLA. 

